Printing-plate.



1. TOMLINSON.

PRINTING PLATE. APPLICATION m'zn Nov. 3, 1913.

1,151,500. PatentedAug. 2451915.

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JOSEPH. TOMLINSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PRINTING-PLATE.

Application filed November 3, 1913.

To all whom it m (41 concern: I

Be it known that I, JOSEPH TOMLINSON, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in printing devices and -l1'as more particular reference to printing plates of the character used generally in addressing machines and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to.

provide an improved printing plate which will be simple, durable and reliable, and efficient and extremely inexpensive to manufacture Other objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stack of printing plates embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single plate; and Fig. 3 is a sectional. view of two of myprinting plates arranged to illustrate the manner in which the plates stack readily.

In the drawings I have illustrated a printing plate which is intendedto be used in printing and addressing machines. Plates of this character are usually provided each with a single address. They are placed in 'a stack or pile in the magazine or galley of an addressing machine, and, from this magazine, the machine takes the plates one by one in successive order, prints the addresses on the paper or other material fed to the machine, and then discharges the plates in the same order in a stack. The stacks of plates are generally kept properly indexed and arranged in the drawers of an index cabinet. It is essential, therefore, that these plates must be of such character that they can be made at an extremely small cost. A very important requirement is that they must be exact duplicates of each other from the standpoint of structure, that is to say,

their structure must be such that they can be manufactured in large quantities in exactly the same size and dimensions, so that they will properly pass through the machines freely and without sticking or clogging the machine. Not only must the plates have these characteristics, but it is extremely essential that they be capable of readily and freely stacking, both in the cabinet drawers and in the machine in'which they are used.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915. Serial No. 798,826.

This is apparent for thereason'that they are handled in such large quantities that consequence, they must necessarily be of such. character that they-will stack readily and almost automatically, so to speak. The plate which I have shown in the drawings meets all of these requirements. It is preferably composed of asinglepiece or plate A of sheet 'metal of the proper length, width and thickness, and each plate must be of the same dimensions as each other plate. Each plate, as before mentioned, carries preferably a single name and address, this being in the form of embossed type 1, struck up integrally from the body of the plate on one side thereof. Since the type project from one side of the plate, it is necessary to provide some means for protecting the type the operators hands seldom touch them. In

greater than the height of the type above the surface of the plate, so that the ribs prevent the plates from rubbing or contacting with the type. I prefer to turn the .edges B over onto the side of the plate opposite to that from which the type project, the purpose being to leave the type side of the plate otherwise flat and clear, so that it will not interfere with the printing opera tions. By arranging these turned over ribs or edges on the side or face of the plate opposite to the type side or face thereof," the ribs of one plate contact with the type side or face of the next adjacent plate in the stack and, since the ribs are of slightly greater thickness than the height of the type, they prevent the type on said next adjacent plate from coming in contact with the rib face of the plate. In the plate structure shown, the ribs are made integral with the plate itself and are simply made by turning over or rolling the edge portions of the plate. The

extreme edges C are brought down into init isobvious that shonld any one-or more" of the plates in a stack shift relatively to.

the-others, or become disarranged or out of alinement, the ribs of one plate will; not

rests. In fact, the disarranged or displaced 1 agitating 'or shaking the stack in the drawer.

This is-illustrated more particularly in Fig.

Y 3, which "shows two plates, one restingupon v the other. The plates, as will be seen, are I ,7 vrelatively displaced,l-'the 1 rib edges of-one plate-being in such position that when a i j slight 'pressureis applied to the edge of it, comprising a flat rectangular plate of sheet Y it will ride up on the'ribs' of 'the'plate upon which it is resting; These ribs or flanges also have another veryj'important function to perform, and that is the stiffening; of theplates so that they will withstand the pressure incident to the printing operations, -which pressure oftentimes is considerable and would, if the plates were not strength- 'ened," operate to. distort the plates. -It will thus @be seen that'my invention 1 3 meets allof'therequirements by a structure which is not" only simple but can be made at an. extremely low cost and can be manufacturedto exact dimensions.

-What'-I claim is: Y I

YA printing plate of the class described cg -i i ga flat piece of metal having type.

projecting from one face thereof and having its edges thickened on the other face of the plate [to a degree vslightly greater than the A printing plate of the classdescribed c'omprising a flat rectangular plate of sheet metal havingintegral type struck from'one tecting ribs of'a greaterthickness than the hei ht ofthe type andbeing formed inclin ed'toward the last mentioned face and each other.'

3. A-prmting plate offthe class described metalhavingtype' struck up on one side thereof, its longitudinal edge portions from end to-endbeing rebent-and disposed on the reverse side'from. said type, and the rebent portions disposed inclined to said last mentioned side with the extreme edges resting against the latter, and the edges at the ends of the plate being disposed flat.

In testimony whereof I have signed'my nameto this specification, in the presence. of two subscribing 'witnesses, ,on this 31st day of October,A. D. 1913. 1

' I JOSEPH TOMLINSON.

Witnesses: t CHARLES SEEM,"

EDGAR FRANCIS BEAUBIEN.

face thereof and having two paralleledge portionsturned over onto the opposite faces of the plate, said turned fedge's' forming pro- 

